Stedman Ellis from the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) says it's important that Territorians are well informed about the use of fracking, but an inquiry is unlikely to uncover anything new.

"I think I'd be confident that any inquiry conducted in the Northern Territory will reinforce the findings of other inquiries we've seen... that hydraulic fracturing and the overall development of the shale gas industry is safe and sustainable, and a necessary practice to realise the economic opportunities of a natural gas industry," he said.

"An unfortunate part of people's effort to understand the potential risks and rewards associated with shale gas, is the scare campaign from environmental groups around Australia."